
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,702
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Warships
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1981

1972
Rules assistance for Admirals
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Admirals is a board game released in 1972 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Max Gerchambeau and its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, Memory, and Grid Movement.
A naval battle game where players position the ships of their fleet in order to engage in individual combat and capture of the enemy Admiral to win the game. Not quite a naval version of Stratego--there are significant rule differences.
Admirals supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Admirals is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Admirals for ages 7 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Admirals has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Admirals belongs to these categories: Fighting, Bluffing, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Variable Set-up, Memory, and Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Admirals are: Max Gerchambeau. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Admirals as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.